description

Synonym Chooser

How is the word description distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of description are character, kind, nature, sort, and type. While all these words mean "a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities," description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

not all acts of that description are actually illegal

When might character be a better fit than description?

The meanings of character and description largely overlap; however, character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

When could kind be used to replace description?

While the synonyms kind and description are close in meaning, kind may suggest natural grouping.

a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

When would nature be a good substitute for description?

The words nature and description can be used in similar contexts, but nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

two problems of a similar nature

When can sort be used instead of description?

In some situations, the words sort and description are roughly equivalent. However, sort often suggests some disparagement.

the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

In what contexts can type take the place of description?

The synonyms type and description are sometimes interchangeable, but type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

one of three basic body types

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of description Newsweek can exclusively reveal a host of these combat tools, courtesy of Midwest Games and Moth Atlas, which have provided us with a good look at some of the game's weapons, including descriptions, abilities, and unique weapon arts. Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025 The list includes some descriptions from Boone about why different location holds a sentimental spot in his heart. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025 The pre-order description on her website initially said orders would ship by Oct. 13, but also made clear that this was not the release date. Doha Madani, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025 Improve On-Page SEO and User Engagement Optimizing on-page elements like meta descriptions, headings, image alt text, and internal links can make a major difference in how search engines rank your content—and how users engage with it. Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for description
Recent Examples of Synonyms for description
Noun
  • Few tourists, and fewer locals, would recognize the nightmarish place in Trump’s depiction.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Bringing that role to life was Jack Black, who admitted the film’s depiction of diva actors has a ring of truth.
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • No offense to landscapes and wildlife painting and portraits of ancestors–Burgess does all of that, too–but here was something different, provocative.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The painting hangs where Barack Obama's official White House portrait is supposed to be, according to White House tradition.
    Kyler Alvord, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • They’re wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks, are flatter and more rectangular in shape, and are about three times the size of the kind traditionally steamed in corn husks (perfect for sharing).
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • All questions of any kind as posed by the user will become tainted, and responses will veer from answers given to other users.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In line with most media portrayals, students tend to be horrified by it.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 22 Aug. 2025
  • At 24, Stamp’s portrayal of the naive, angelic sailor earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer, and instant stardom.
    Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Acting as a host of sorts, the art aligns with the gracious, skilled, and highly trained dining professionals – who are diligently preparing for guests hours before meal service, taking notes and reading carefully, like students at elite university.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Duncan is killed off during the first movie's events and did not appear in 2024's Dune: Part Two, but the actor is back for a reprisal (of sorts) in Part Three, which is based on author Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune: Messiah.
    Tommy McArdle, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While Trump's approval rating nationally remains historically low, a look at state-by-state survey results show a more complicated picture.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The Grammy winner also shared a few pictures from the event, including a group photo of herself and the fans smiling at the camera as well as a snap of everyone dancing to the unreleased music.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The almost theatrical approach, complete with powder white wigs, opulent outerwear and hosiery, eventually turned into double-breasted coats, and trousers with stripes.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Esther Street crosswalk is bounded on its outer edges by white paint, and the colors are also separated by white stripes.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Calumet County Circuit Judge Carey Reed ruled that Andrews' denial of knowledge about Swenson's remains, when questioned by police in 2021, did not meet the legal definition of hiding a corpse.
    Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Back to Ciudad, where the wide-ranging menu defies definition.
    Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Description.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/description. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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